Rome: Even on a night when Juventus was outplayed for long stretches, the nine-time defending Serie A champion managed to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw at Roma.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice, including a second-half equalizer with a towering header after Juventus had been reduced to 10 men, while Jordan Veretout had a brace for Roma.
“We got back into it, even after the red card,” Ronaldo said. “By the end of the season this could prove to be an important point.”
Veretout put Roma ahead in the 31st with a penalty following a handball from Adrien Rabiot, who was trying to block a shot from Veretout.
Ronaldo then equalized from the spot after Lorenzo Pellegrini used his arm to block the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Veretout scored his second in first-half added time as Roma tore past Juventus’ veteran but aging center backs Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan escaped down the left flank and crossed for Veretout, who used one touch to get away from a defender before shooting past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Juventus was reduced to 10 men in the 62nd when Rabiot picked up his second yellow card for sticking his boot into the left thigh of Mkhitaryan.
Moments earlier, Roma forward Edin Džeko struck a shot off the post after his marker had already fallen to the ground.
Juve then had a chance to equalize when Ronaldo volleyed directly at goalkeeper Antonio Mirante.
Ronaldo finally found the target again in the 69th when he rose to head in a cross from Danilo — giving him three goals in Juve’s opening two matches. “We’re at the start of the season and there’s a new coach (Andrea Pirlo) with new ideas,” Ronaldo said. “But I see the team working well, enthusiastic and I see a bright future for us.”
It was the first point this season for Roma, which was inflicted with a 3-0 loss in its opener last weekend at Hellas Verona for using an ineligible player. The match had ended 0-0.
Juventus, which beat Sampdoria 3-0 in its opener, trails early Serie A leaders Napoli, Verona and AC Milan by two points.
A limit of 1,000 fans is being allowed for soccer games in Italy amid the cases coronavirus pandemic.
Hirving Lozano scored twice as Napoli routed Genoa 6-0 in a match that had been delayed by a positive coronavirus result.
Kickoff was pushed back by three hours after Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin tested positive, prompting a new round of swabs on Saturday and delaying the team’s all important trip to Naples. (AP)
